The most exciting thing about Jason Collins’ coming-out announcement is the reaction of others. These days, it’s clearly uncool to be homophobic. Or to put it another way: Real men support gay rights. The President of the United States is a real man.

Chelsea Clinton
@ChelseaClinton
Very proud of my friend Jason Collins for having the strength & courage to be the first openly gay player in the NBA. bit.ly/ZLei9F
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The NBA said it supports Collins:

Atlanta Hawks
@ATLHawks
“We have great respect for Jason and his message today.” Our full statement on former Hawk Jason Collins: on.nba.com/ZZhF7n #NBAFamily
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Support for Collins has come from across the sports world, including Major League Baseball:

MLB
@MLB
The baseball world voices its support for @jasoncollins34: atmlb.com/ZLYgwk
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Boston Red Sox
@RedSox
We salute you, @jasoncollins34 for your courage and leadership. Any time you want to throw out a first pitch at Fenway Park, let us know.
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Nick Swisher
@NickSwisher
I will always support people for being who they are. Happy for @jasoncollins34 that he can lead an honest life.
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Following Phoenix Suns general manager Rick Welts’ announcement that he is gay, Suns point guard Steve Nash made a video in support of New York’s marriage equality proposition. The NBA star timed the video’s release to support Welts and New York Rangers forward Sean Avery, who experienced a backlash among hockey fans after making a similar video. Earlier this year, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo made a video in support of Maryland’s failed marriage equality proposition. He said that after publicly supporting the issue for years, he’s happy it’s become a mainstream topic. Ayanbadejo said it is gratifying to see athletes like Avery and Nash support same-sex marriage. He feels that support is finally reaching critical mass, which will happen when the issue finds supporters outside of a circle of voices such as Nash’s.

“That’s when it’s really going to hit home for me,” Ayanbadejo said. “It’s just a matter of time before it’s going to be accepted.”

“I’d rather have a gay guy who can play than a straight guy who can’t play.” These are the words of an athlete who won eleven NBA All-Star Game appearances and was named the All-Star MVP in 1991.

“Sir Charles” also says, “I’ve been a big proponent of gay marriage for a long time, because as a black person, I can’t be in for any form of discrimination at all.”

ESPN reports that Barkley said he’s certain he played with gay teammates on two or three teams during his basketball career, but he never worried about awkward situations involving gay teammates, because “[It] doesn’t work like that.”

In 1993, he was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player and during the NBA’s 50th anniversary, named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic games and won two gold medals as a member of the United States’ Dream Team.

Rick Welts [pic], president and chief executive of the Phoenix Suns recently explained to his colleagues and the press that he wants to “pierce the silence that envelops the subject of homosexuality in men’s team sports”.

Last month he came out to David Stern, commissioner of the NBA and for the first time in their 30-year friendship, they hugged.

He wants to be a mentor to gay people who harbor doubts about a sports career, whether on the court or in the front office. Most of all, he wants to feel whole, authentic.

Welts, 58, has spent 40 years in sports, rising from ball boy with the Sonics to NBA executive to team president.

Brian Burke, President & General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team delivered keynote remarks to members of PFLAG NYC on fighting homophobia and making sports more welcoming of young people who are gay. The National Hockey League (NHL), National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), MetLife, and JetBlue Airways sponsored the event. According to Outsports, New York City’s public schools, with 1.1 million students, includes as many as 100,000 young people who may be GLBT and struggling with issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. Extensive research shows that these students are at higher risk to experience academic, health, social, and family-related problems.